Hat with hanging element

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure may relate to a hat. The hat may include a cavity with an opening configured to receive a head of a user. The hat may also include an adjustable band around the opening of the cavity that may adjust a volume of the cavity between a first volume and a second volume. The hat may also include a hanging element coupled to the cavity and configured to be substantially concealed within the cavity at either the first volume or the second volume, be substantially disposed outside of the cavity at either the first volume or the second volume, and transition back and forth between being substantially concealed within the cavity and being substantially disposed outside of the cavity at either the first volume or the second volume.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/843,758, filed on Sep. 2, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/045,306, filed Sep. 3, 2014, thedisclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by thisreference in their entireties.

FIELD

The embodiments discussed herein are related to a hat.

BACKGROUND

Hats can have a wide range of designs to meet the fashion desires of thewearer while also serving one or more functional needs such asprotection from the environment. For example, hats are commonly worn asprotection from the sun and/or as a particular type of fashionstatement.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments thatsolve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such asthose described above. Rather, this background is only provided toillustrate one example technology area where some embodiments describedherein may be practiced.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may relate to a hat.The hat may include a cavity with an opening configured to receive ahead of a user. The hat may also include an adjustable band around theopening of the cavity that may adjust a volume of the cavity between afirst volume and a second volume. The hat may also include a hangingelement coupled to the cavity and configured to be substantiallyconcealed within the cavity at either the first volume or the secondvolume, be substantially disposed outside of the cavity at either thefirst volume or the second volume, and transition back and forth betweenbeing substantially concealed within the cavity and being substantiallydisposed outside of the cavity at either the first volume or the secondvolume.

The object and advantages of the embodiments will be realized andachieved at least by the elements, features, and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood that boththe foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention,as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments will be described and explained with additionalspecificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1a illustrates an example embodiment of a hat viewed from the sidewith a hanging element unconcealed;

FIG. 1b illustrates the hat of FIG. 1a viewed from the side with thehanging element concealed within the hat;

FIG. 1c illustrates the hat of FIG. 1a viewed from below;

FIG. 2 illustrates another example embodiment of a hat viewed from theside;

FIG. 3 illustrates another example embodiment of a hat viewed from theside;

FIG. 4 illustrates examples stitching patterns;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of a hanging element viewedfrom the interior of an embodiment of a hat;

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a hat viewed from the side;

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a hat viewed from the side; and

FIG. 8 illustrates an example method of manufacturing a hat.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In addition to fashion, people often wear articles of clothing on theirheads. These articles of clothing are commonly referred to as “hats” andmay be configured to be many different shapes and sizes. Hats may beworn to protect the head of a user from the environment. Different hatconfigurations may protect the user from environmental elements such assun exposure, wind, rain, snow, cold, or heat. For example, a long hatbrim may shield eyes of the user from direct sunlight. Additionally oralternatively, some hats may include masks that may be used by the user.For example a mask may hang from a hat that may hide part of the user. Anumber of mask types may be used for many situations. For example themask may be configured as a costume for the user. As another example,the mask may be camouflaged and used by the user to better blend in withhis surroundings (e.g., while hunting, bird watching, photographingand/or observing nature/wildlife in general, and/or for military,tactical, or special operations).

A common problem associated with many common hats is the environment maychange while the user is using the hat. As the environment changes, theuser may desire to change the configuration of the hat. For example, theuser may desire to change configuration for reasons of fashion, to adaptthe protection provided by the hat, or to conform to the newenvironment. For example, in sunny weather a hat user may desire toprotect his neck from prolonged sun exposure and may desire to wear ahat with a shade cloth attached to the back of the hat. However, if thesunny weather changes to dark and overcast, the shade cloth may becomeburdensome or fashionably undesirable in the new environmentalcondition.

Independent from the environment, an additional problem associated withhats may be that the situation or circumstances in which the user isusing the hat may change while the user is using the hat. As thesituation changes the user may desire to change the configuration of thehat to meet the demands of the new situation. For example, whilehunting, a user may desire to camouflage his face by using a mask whichmay be attached to a hat. However, if the user no longer desires to huntor be camouflaged the mask may become burdensome or fashionablyundesirable outside of the hunting situation.

A second of many possible examples may include situations involvingcostumes. In some situations, costumes may be fashionably unacceptable.However, other situations may provide for an acceptable use of costumes.As a user transitions from an acceptable costume situation to anunacceptable costume situation, a user using a hat configured with amask may desire to change the configuration of the hat to meet thedemands of the new situation. For example, a user may be attending acostume party and may desire to use a mask which may be attached to ahat. If the user leaves the costume party, the mask may becomeburdensome or socially undesirable in the new situation.

As such, as detailed below, according to one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure, a hat that includes a hanging element (e.g., asunshade, a mask, etc.) may be configured in a manner that a user maymore easily change the configuration of the hat to better suit a newenvironmental or situational condition.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1a illustrates a side view of an example embodiment of a hat 100including a concealable hanging element 105 arranged according to atleast one embodiment of the present disclosure. The hat type used in theexample embodiment is commonly referred to as a “baseball” hat. Thepresent disclosure is not limited to baseball hats and can be used inany number of different hat types.

The illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1a depicts the hat 100 from the sidewith a hanging element 105 unconcealed. FIG. 1b depicts the hat 100 froma side view with the hanging element concealed. FIG. 1c depicts the hat100 from below. FIG. 2 depicts a hat 200 viewed from the side that mayhave one or more of the same features as a hat 100 and a differentembodiment of the hanging element 205. FIG. 3 depicts a hat 300 viewedfrom the side that may have one or more of the same features as the hat100 and a different embodiment of a hanging element 305.

The hat 100 may include a hanging element 105 (illustrated in FIGS.1a-1c ), a rim 110 (illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1c ), one or more panels 112(illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1c ), one or more variable panels 114(illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1c ), an adjustable band 115 (illustrated inFIG. 1c ), a securing mechanism 120 (illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1c ), acavity 102 with an opening (illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1c ), and a bill 101(illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1c ). In some embodiments, the hanging element105 may be configured to collapse within the cavity 102 in a manner thatallows the hanging element 105 to be quickly and easily hidden withinthe cavity 102 when a user desires to wear the hat 100 without thehanging element 105 substantially showing. For example, as detailedbelow, the hat 100 and the hanging element 105 may be configured suchthat the user of the hat 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1c may grasp thebill 101 in one hand and flip the hanging element 105 above the rim 110so a substantial part of the hanging element 105 nests within the cavity102; the user may then wear the hat with the substantial portion of thehanging element 105 residing inside the cavity 102 and substantiallyconcealed within the rim 110 as depicted in FIG. 1 b. Additionally oralternatively, the hanging element 105 and the hat 100 may also beconfigured such that the hanging element 105 may quickly and easily fallout of the cavity 102 when the user desires that the hanging element 105be visible and used outside of the cavity of the hat 100.

The cavity 102 may be configured to receive the head of the user. Insome embodiments, the cavity 102 may be formed by any number of thepanels 112 and/or the variable panels 114. The panels 112 and/or thevariable panels 114 may be configured to delineate any portion of thehat 100 in any number of sections. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1c, the hat 100 may include panels 112 a, 112 b, 112 c, 112 d, andvariable panels 114 a and 114 b, which may be configured as trianglesthat may form the cavity 102 of the hat 100. The number of the panels112 and/or the panels 114 may vary and may be more or fewer than six insome embodiments. Additionally or alternatively, the shape of the panels112 and/or the variable panels 114 may vary. For example, in someembodiments, the panels 112 may form a part of the cavity 102 and thevariable panels 114 may form the remainder of the cavity 102.Additionally or alternatively, the panels 112 may form substantially theentire cavity 102 or the variable panels 114 may form substantially theentire cavity 102.

In some embodiments, one or more of the variable panels 114 may bereinforced. The reinforced variable panels 114 may be disposed such thatthey are in proximity to where a substantial portion of the hangingelement 105 may be nested within the cavity 102. The additional rigidityprovided by the reinforced variable panels 114 may allow the hangingelement 105 to more easily fall into and rest in the cavity 102 when itis desired that the hanging element 105 be concealed. For example, inthe illustrated embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 c, the panels 114 a and114 b may be composed of a reinforced material because the hangingelement 105 is disposed around the back of the hat 100 and thereinforced variable panels 114 a and 114 b are also used to form theback of the cavity 102. In these and other embodiments, one or more ofthe reinforced variable panels 114 may include a gradation ofreinforcement. For example, one or more of the reinforced variablepanels 114 may be configured to be substantially ridged near the centerof the reinforced panels and may gradually become less ridged atdistances farther away from the center of the reinforced variable panels114, or vice versa. Any other mechanism of reinforcement may also beused, such as treating a material with starch, adding additional layersof material, adding filaments, fibers, etc. to the material, includingpatterns (such as ridges, whirls, loops, studs, hash-marks, etc.) in thematerial, stitching the material, etc. Additionally or alternatively, amaterial may be selected that includes reinforcement, such as ridges,whirls, loops, studs, hash-marks, etc.

In some embodiments, the material for the panels 112, the variablepanels 114, and/or the hanging element 105 may be selected with specificpurposes. The material for each of the panels 112, the variable panels114, and the hanging element 105 may be selected independently of theothers, or there may be some dependence between the type(s) of materialsselected. For example, any of the material(s) may be selected tofacilitate the hanging element 105 transitioning between beingsubstantially disposed within the cavity 102 and being substantiallyoutside of the cavity 102. As another example, any of the materials maybe selected to facilitate the cavity 102 changing volume to better fitthe head of the user. As an additional example, the materials may beselected such that the hanging element 105 maintains the ability and/orconfiguration to transition between being substantially disposed withinthe cavity 102 and being substantially outside the cavity 102 even ifthe cavity 102 has changed volume to better fit the head of the user.For example, if the cavity 102 were at either a first volume or a secondvolume, the hanging element 105 may maintain the ability and/orconfiguration to transition between being substantially disposed withinthe cavity 102 and being substantially outside of the cavity 102.

In these and other embodiments, the materials may be selected so that amaterial has elastic properties such that the material expands from aresting length to approximately between 1.0 and 2.0 times the restinglength of the material. The range provided is merely illustrative, andany value of expansion may be used, such as 1.1, 1.5, 1.9, etc. timesthe resting length. Additionally or alternatively, the retractive aspectof the elastic properties of the material may be considered. Forexample, a material may have a high expansion, allowing for large sizedheads to fit within the cavity, but if the material retracts with anexceptional high force, the hat may be uncomfortable. Thus, theretractive force of a material may also be considered in selecting amaterial.

In some embodiments, a material may be biased such that the material hasgreater elastic properties in one direction than in another, forexample, a panel 112 and/or a variable panel 114 may expand parallel tothe rim 110 to a ratio of between approximately 1.1 and 1.4 times theresting length and may expand perpendicular to the rim 110 to a ratiobetween approximately 1.0 and 1.1 times the resting length. In these andother embodiments, the material of the hanging element 105 may beselected and/or coupled with the cavity 102 to align with the bias ofthe material of the panel 112 and/or the variable panel 114. Forexample, if the cavity 102 is formed of panels 112 and/or variablepanels 114 using material that may be expandable parallel to the rim 110to a ratio of about 1.2 times the resting length, the material for thehanging element 105 may be selected of a material that is alsoexpandable parallel to the rim 110 to a ratio of about 1.2 times theresting length.

Additionally or alternatively, if the cavity 102 is formed of panels 112and/or variable panels 114 using material that may be expandableparallel to the rim 110 to a ratio of about 1.2 times the restinglength, the material for the hanging element 105 may be selected of amaterial with low elastic properties (e.g. expanding to a ratio of about1.0 to 1.1 times the resting length) and may include pleats, plaits,ruffles, fold-overs, etc. in the material such that as the panels 112and/or the variable panels 114 expand, the pleats, plaits, ruffles,fold-overs, etc. may at least partially straighten out to facilitatealigning with the expansion of the cavity 102. Additionally oralternatively, the panels 112 and/or the variable panels 114 may be madeof less elastic material and include pleats, plaits, ruffles,fold-overs, etc. and the hanging element 105 may be made of a moreelastic material such that as the hanging element 105 is expanded, thepleats, plaits, ruffles, fold-overs, etc. may be at least partiallystraightened out. Additionally or alternatively, a less elastic materialmay include a slit, void, or other gap in the material to align thematerial with the expansion of another more elastic material to whichthe less elastic material is coupled. While some examples provided mayinclude material with different elastic properties in differentdirections, the principles described with respect to selecting materialsto align expansion, selecting pleats, plaits, ruffles, fold-overs, etc.are also applicable to any material selection, regardless ofdirectionality of elastic properties.

In some embodiments, the material of one or more of the panels 112, thevariable panels 114, and/or the hanging element 105 may include, by wayof non-limiting example, any of nylon (including any variations ofnylon), spandex, lycra, elastane, cotton, polyester, cotton blends(including with spandex, polyester, etc.), silver threads, etc. orcombinations or blends thereof. In these and other embodiments,materials may be selected and/or treated to have specific properties,for example, flexibility, sun protection, water repellant or water proofproperties, fire retardant properties, anti-bacterial properties,anti-microbial properties, temperature regulation, moisture controlproperties, moisture wicking properties, far-infrared shielding orenhancing properties, etc. In these and other embodiments, any of theseproperties may be achieved by treating the material with a treatment,for example, with an anti-microbial or anti-bacterial treatment(including silver ions/nano technology), with a sun protection treatment(including protection from UVA/UVB rays, or a sun protection factor(SPF) of ten to fifty), etc. In some embodiments, the material may havea fabric weight of between approximately ten grams per square meter andfive hundred grams per square meter. In some embodiments, the materialmay have a fabric weight of about one hundred and eighty grams persquare meter.

The adjustable band 115 may be attached anywhere at or above the rim 110in a matter suitable for hat use. In some embodiments, the hangingelement 105 may be disposed under the adjustable band 115 such that thehanging element 105 may be disposed between the adjustable band 115 andthe panels 112 and/or the variable panels 114 with which the hangingelement 105 may be associated. In these or other embodiments, theadjustable band 115 may be attached such that the bottom edge of theadjustable band 115 may be above the rim 110 suitable for concealing thepresence of the hanging element 105 when the hanging element 105 isnested inside the cavity 102. For example, the adjustable band 115 maybe attached such that the bottom edge of the adjustable band 115 is atleast approximately 1/32 of an inch above the rim 110 with the hangingelement 105 disposed under the adjustable band 115. Such a configurationmay allow the rim 110 to conceal the folded edge of the hanging element105 when the hanging element 105 is nested inside the cavity 102. Thedistance between the bottom of the adjustable band 115 and the rim 110may vary depending on the thickness of the hanging element 105. Forexample, the distance may be greater when the hanging element 105 is arelatively thick material as compared to a relatively thin materialbecause the fold may be thicker and larger.

In some embodiments, the adjustable band 115 may be disposed such thatthe bottom of the adjustable band 115 may be substantially even with therim 110 and the hanging element 105 may be attached to the adjustableband 115 such that the adjustable band 115 may be between the hangingelement 105 and the associated panels 112. In some of these embodiments,the hanging element 105 may be attached above the rim 110 such that thehanging element 105 and the folded edge of the hanging element 105 maybe concealed when the hanging element 105 is nested inside the cavity102.

In some embodiments, the location of the adjustable band 115 may beinconsequential with respect to the placement of the hanging element 105because the hanging element 105 may be attached to, below, or above theadjustable band 115.

The hanging element 105 may be coupled to any portion of the cavity 102.Additionally or alternatively, the hanging element 105 may be configuredto any length, width, thickness, material, and shape suitable forhanging from the hat 100 and nesting within the cavity 102. For example,the illustrated embodiment in FIGS. 1a-1c depict a hanging element 105that may be made from a light weight fabric shaped in an elongatedcircle that extends around the hat 100 to the brim 101 of the hat 100.Additionally or alternatively, the hanging element 105 is configured tobe long enough to cover the neck of the user. Furthermore, the size andshape of the hanging element 105 may allow for the hanging element 105to nest inside the cavity 102 while being worn.

In some embodiments, the hanging element 105 may traverse any distancealong the rim 110, for example, a third, half, or the entire distancealong the rim 110. Additionally or alternatively, the hanging element105 may be located in any position relative to the rim 110. For example,FIG. 2 illustrates a hat 200 with a hanging element 205 that maytraverse approximately half of a rim 210 of the hat 200. Further, asanother example, FIG. 3 illustrates a hat 300 with a hanging element 305that may be oriented in the front of the hat 300 under a bill 301 of thehat 300.

Returning to FIGS. 1a -1 c, modifications can be made to the hat 100without changing the scope of the disclosure. The general design of thehat 100 may include many common hat shapes including baseball, “beanie,”“boonie,” “cowboy,” or any other hat design that may be desirable. Alsothe hanging element 105 may include shapes such as square, triangle,rectangle, or any other shape that may be desired. The hanging element105 may include a void of any shape, size, or number. For example, thehanging element 105 may include eye holes suitable for increasingvisibility through the hanging element 105. In other embodiments, thehanging element 105 may be composed of any material suitable to allow aperson increased visibility when looking through the hanging element105. For example, the hanging element 105 may be composed of sheermaterial. Additionally or alternatively, hanging element 105 may includeany other addition that may be desirable for fashion or protection fromthe environment.

In some embodiments, the hat 100 and the hanging element 105 may becomposed of fabric, waterproof material, or any other suitable material.The hat 100 may include a number of colors suitable to any number ofactivities for hat wear such as sporting events, hiking, fishing,hunting, or any other event desirable for hat use. There is norequirement for the individual components of the hat 100 to be made ofthe same material; the individual components may include differingmaterials. Additionally or alternatively, the exterior and the interiorof the hat 100 may be textured to include patterns, designs, trademarks,names, logos, or any other design according to preference.

In some embodiments, additional elements or devices may be added to thehanging element 105 and/or other areas of the hat 100 for a particularuse. For example, leaf-shaped material pieces such as artificial leavesmay be coupled to the hat 100 to improve a camouflaged appearance. Suchadditional elements or devices may protrude out and away from the hat100, providing a three-dimensional element to a visual feature of thehat, such as camouflage or a costume. As another example, if the hat 100were for a sporting event, the additional elements may be appendages ofa mascot or other character visually depicted as part of the hat 100.

In some embodiments, the adjustable band 115 may be composed of a numberof materials suitable for hat use and fitting. For example, theadjustable band 115, the panels 112, and/or the variable panels 114 mayinclude a stretchable material suitable for fitting to a variety ofusers. Allowing for a stretchable material to provide the same device tofit a variety of devices is commonly known as “one-size-fits-most.” Inthese and other embodiments, the securing mechanisms 120 may beconfigured to secure the hanging element 105 to the hat 100, suitablefor maintaining one-size-fits-most capability. In these and otherembodiments, the selection of the material for the adjustable band 115,the panels 112, the variable panels 114, and/or the hanging element 105may include any of the considerations described in the presentdisclosure, such as aligning expansion of materials, maintaining thetransition of the hanging element 105 from being disposed substantiallywithin the cavity 102 to being substantially outside of the cavity 102,etc. In some embodiments, the adjustable band 115 may be part of one ofthe panels 112 or the variable panels 114. Additionally oralternatively, the adjustable band 115 may be an additional panelproximate the rim 110 of the hat 100. In some embodiments, theadjustable band 115 may include a stretchable cord coupled with a sweatband, or a flat elastic band coupled with a sweatband. In these andother embodiments, the adjustable band 115 may include any combinationof the configurations, materials, connections, etc. of the presentdisclosure.

Embodiments using stitching such as the securing mechanism 120 may useany number of different stitching patterns. In further embodiments thestitching pattern may be configured to reduce stretching resistance ofthe adjustable band 115. For example, the stitching patterns illustratedembodiment in FIG. 4 may be used when the securing mechanism 120includes stitching. The stitching pattern may allow the material to bestretched with reduced resistance in the direction of the stretching,based on the stitching pattern. For example, the orientations of thecross pattern 411 and the zig-zag pattern 412 may allow for reducedlateral resistance of lateral stretching. In these and otherembodiments, a flexible or elastic thread may be used. Additionally oralternatively, a rigid or semi-rigid thread may be used.

In addition, the hanging element 105 may be configured to reducerestrictions on the adjustable band 115. For example, the hangingelement 105 may be composed of a stretchable material suitable forreducing restrictions on the adjustable band 115 that may be suitablefor providing the hat 100 with adjustable sizes.

Modifications can be made to the band 115 without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. The band 115 may be composed of avariety of different materials suitable for fitting the hat 100 tovarious sizes. For example, the band 115 may be sized by methods such asVELCRO®, adjustable straps, snaps, buttons, elastic, drawstrings, or anyother method suitable for adjusting the band 115 to the user.Furthermore, the band 115 is not limited to adjustable materials, butmay also be composed of a pre-sized, non-adjustable material.

In some embodiments, the hanging element 105 may be attached to theadjustable band 115 in a manner suitable for adjusting the hat 100 to adesired size such as buttons, clasps, VELCRO®, or any other mechanismsuitable for attaching the hanging element 105 to the adjustable band115. In these and other embodiments, the attachment may be a temporaryor reusable attachment such that the hanging element 105 may be attachedto the hat 100 when desired and may be removed when desired. Embodimentsthat use stitching may include any number of stitching patterns suitablefor attaching the hanging element 105 to band 115.

The illustrated example of the hanging element 105 is merely one of manypossible embodiments of the hanging element 105. Specificimplementations may vary depending on the design of the hat 100 anddesired use of the hanging element 105. For example, FIG. 5 illustratesan example embodiment of a hanging element 505 according to at least oneembodiment described herein. The hanging element 505 may be coupled toan adjustable band 515 by a securing mechanism 520.

The hanging element 505 may further include one or more pockets 525. Thepocket 525 may be formed by a number of methods including one or moreseams 530. For example, in the illustrated example depicted in FIG. 5,the pocket 525 may be formed by seams 530 a and 530 b. A variety ofnumber, shape, length, thickness, and/or size of seams 530 may form theshape of a pocket 525 that may be symmetric, uniform, asymmetric,disuniform or any other pattern desired. The pocket 525 may beconfigured to house any number of objects suitable for providingadditional weight to the hanging element 505, or may serve merely as astorage location for the user. Examples of such objects may includemetal weights, plastic frames, or objects the user may desire to store,such as credit cards, driver's license, key, coins, pens, pencils, lipbalm, medication, sunblock, duck calls, turkey calls, other game calls,sports novelties, sports souvenirs, or any other item a person maydesire to house in the pocket 525.

The pocket 525 may be located at any suitable position on the hangingelement 505. For example, the pocket 525 may traverse substantially anentire edge of the hanging element 505 and may house a weight. Theweight may include any object of any weight, such as a wire, a sandpouch, an additional layer or layers of material or stitching, a metalslug, a plastic band, plastic pellets, etc. In these and otherembodiments, the weight may be selected and/or configured to facilitatethe hanging element 505 transitioning from being disposed substantiallywithin a cavity of a hat to the hanging element 505 being disposedsubstantially outside of the hat. For example, the weight may provideadditional momentum to an end of the hanging element 105 when beingswung into the cavity and may provide additional gravitational force tothe end of the hanging element 105 when being dropped out of the cavity.Additionally or alternatively, any number of pockets 525 may be fixed tothe hanging element 505, and any of the pockets 525 may be located atany location on the hanging element 505.

In some embodiments, the pocket 525 may include a securing device 535configured to allow objects to be substantially secured within thepocket 525. For example, the securing device 535 may include buttons,snaps, clasps, zippers, adhesives, pins, stitching, VELCRO®, magnets, orany other method suitable for substantially securing an object withinthe pocket 525.

In some embodiments, the pocket 525 may include multiple sizes and/orlayers of compartments. By way of non-limiting example, there may be afirst layer with a large pocket and a second layer with two smallerpockets. Any number of layers, sizes, and/or pockets may be used.

In addition to the fashion and protective features of hats, attendees ofsporting events and other events may desire to display their support orenthusiasm in a variety of ways including swinging banners or flags.FIG. 6 depicts a hat 600 viewed from the side that may have one or moreof the same features as the hat 100 and may include a finger loop 616(also referred to as a “loop”). The loop 616 may be configured such thata finger may be placed within it. The loop 616 may also be configured toact as an anchor/pivot point about which the hat 616 may be swung orrotated in a, for example, three hundred-sixty degree motion, which maycreate a spinning, propeller type effect. Accordingly, in someembodiments, the hat 600 may be used during an outdoor event to not onlyprovide protection from the elements, but also to be used as an elementof providing support and/or showing enthusiasm. The loop 616 may beplaced anywhere on the hat 600, the example depicted in FIG. 6 shows theloop 616 placed near the front of the bill 601.

The loop 616 may be composed of any number of elements that may besufficient to act as an anchor/pivot point about which the hat 616 maybe swung or rotated. For example, FIG. 7 depicts a hat 700 viewed fromthe side that may include one or more of the same features as the hat100 and a different example of a loop 716. In this embodiment, the loop716 may be configured to include a void in a bill 701 of the hat 100that may be configured to allow a finger, or the like, to be placedwithin it.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example method 800 of manufacturing a hat inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, for example,the hat 100 of FIGS. 1A-1C, the hat 200 of FIG. 2, the hat 300 of FIG.3, the hat 600 of FIG. 6, and/or the hat 700 of FIG. 7. The method 800may be performed by any suitable, system, apparatus, device, oroperation (such as a manufacturing operation). Although illustrated withdiscrete blocks, the steps and operations associated with one or more ofthe blocks of the method 800 may be divided into additional blocks,combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desiredimplementation.

At block 810, a first material for one or more panels may be selected.For example, a material may be selected with an elastic property suchthat the material may expand from a resting length to approximatelybetween 1.0 and 1.8 times the resting length. Any range and ratio ofranges may be used, for example approximately between 1.0 and 1.3 timesthe resting length. In some embodiments, the material may be selectedbased on, among other things, the elastic properties of the materialsuch that the material may expand to support different sizes of heads ofusers (e.g. a “one-size fits most”) while still maintaining enoughelastic recoil that the hat stays securely on the head of the userwearing the hat. Additionally or alternatively, the material selectionmay also be based on the elastic properties such that the hat stayssecurely but is not uncomfortably tight on the head of the user. In someembodiments, some panels may be selected to have the first material andother panels may be selected to have an entirely different material.Additionally or alternatively, the panels may be treated or reinforcedin some way as described in the present disclosure, or another materialmay be selected that may be reinforced. For example, by selecting areinforced material or by reinforcing the material, the hat beingmanufactured may have additional rigidity to facilitate a hangingelement transitioning to being substantially concealed within the hatand/or being comfortable to a user of the hat while the hanging elementis substantially concealed within the hat. Additionally oralternatively, the rigidity of the material may facilitate the hatkeeping or maintaining its shape as the hanging element transitions tobeing substantially disposed outside of the cavity.

At block 820, the panels are combined to form a cavity with an openingconfigured to receive the head of a user. The panels may be stitchedtogether, glued, etc. In some embodiments, a single panel may be usedand excess material may be removed or portions of the single panel maybe stitched together to form the cavity. In some embodiments, the panelsmay be combined in a way or made of a material such that the volume ofthe cavity may change to accommodate various sizes of heads of users.

At block 830, a second material may be selected for a hanging elementbased on the elastic properties of the first material. For example, insome embodiments the second material may be selected to have the same ora similar elastic property to the first material. Additionally oralternatively, the second material may be selected to be less elasticthan the first material or more elastic than the first material. Inthese and other embodiments, the first material and/or the secondmaterial may be selected such that, based on the elastic properties ofthe first material, the hanging element may transition from beingsubstantially concealed within the cavity and substantially outside ofthe cavity and vice versa, even if the cavity has changed in size (e.g.expanded or constricted to change volume based on the elastic propertiesof the material). In these and other embodiments, the second materialmay also be selected to enhance comfort of a user of the hat. Forexample, a lightweight material, or sun-blocking material, or porousmaterial (e.g. to allow wind), or a smooth material (e.g. one that iscomfortable when in contact with skin), etc. may be selected.Additionally or alternatively, the second material may be selected basedon a coloration or texture of the material, such as camouflage, etc.

At block 840, the hanging element may be coupled to the cavity such thatthe hanging element may transition from being substantially concealedwithin the cavity to being substantially outside of the cavity, and viceversa. Such transition may occur, for example, when a user flips the hatto cause the hanging element to transition from being outside of thecavity to being nested within the cavity. Such a transition may alsooccur, for example, when the user lifts the hat with the hanging elementsubstantially inside of the cavity and shakes the hanging element out ofthe cavity such that it is substantially outside of the hat. In someembodiments, the coupling may include one or more ruffles, pleats,plaits, fold-overs, or combinations thereof in the first material and/orthe second material. In these and other embodiments, the ruffles,pleats, plaits, fold-overs, or combinations thereof may be at leastpartially straightened out as the cavity expands due to the elasticproperties of the first material and/or the second material.

At block 850, a weight may be coupled to the hanging element tofacilitate the transitions of the hanging element. For example, a weightmay provide additional momentum to an end of the hanging element whenbeing flipped into the cavity. As another example, the weight mayprovide additional gravitational force to the end of the hanging elementwhen it is shaken out of the cavity.

Accordingly, the method 800 may be used to manufacture a hat.Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the method 800without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example,the operations of the method 800 may be implemented in differing order.Additionally or alternatively, two or more operations may be performedat the same time. By way of non-limiting examples, the block 820 and 830may be done in a different order or concurrently, and the blocks 820 and840 may be done in a different order or concurrently. Furthermore, theoutlined operations and actions are provided as examples, and some ofthe operations and actions may be optional, combined into feweroperations and actions, or expanded into additional operations andactions without detracting from the essence of the disclosedembodiments. By way of non-limiting example, the block 850 may beomitted. All of the examples provided above are non-limiting and merelyserve to illustrate the flexibility and breadth of the presentdisclosure.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the presentdisclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furtheringthe art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to suchspecifically recited examples and conditions. Although embodiments ofthe present disclosure present disclosure have been described in detail,it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, andalterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit andscope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hat comprising: a cavity with an openingconfigured to receive a head of a user; an adjustable band around theopening of the cavity to adjust a volume of the cavity between a firstvolume and a second volume; and a hanging element coupled to the cavityand configured to: be substantially concealed within the cavity ateither the first volume or the second volume; be substantially disposedoutside of the cavity at either the first volume or the second volume;and transition back and forth between being substantially concealedwithin the cavity and being substantially disposed outside of the cavityat either the first volume or the second volume.